Community Benefits Added to D.C. United Stadium Plan

As D.C. Council members and developers work to reach a funding deal on the $300 million proposed D.C. United Stadium, a new package of benefits for Southwest residents was announced today (Tuesday)

Updates to the bill discussed this afternoon would fund a Circulator route that goes to Buzzard Point, a workforce intermediary program to connect locals with jobs, and improvements of the Randall Recreation Center.

“There will be new transit opportunities to help support the increased number of people who are living and working there,” Councilman Tommy Wells said. “We are going to have new jobs, not just for construction, but for after this opens.”

The creation of the soccer stadium will spur growth in the industrial southern portion of Southwest, Mayor-elect Muriel Bowser said.

“We know that the investment in this underutilized property is going to encourage other development,” she said. “It makes sense to use public dollars to get our stadium.”

The financing plan for the stadium is still in dispute. Shortly after the Council voted to authorize the construction of the stadium, the D.C. Attorney General questioned the legality of the funding mechanism, as Washington City Paper reported.